note: an attempt to channel my imagination towards the intricate world of Naruto; warfare is based on the anime's PS2 version so don't blame me for any misuse of their abilities. italic is flashback; I know the fanfic is slow-paced but please bare with me – this piece of work is drama anyway.

OF BUZZING AND CHIRPING

"Twofold Spontaneity"

Beneath the glory of moonbeams in early midnight, the Hidden Village of Leaf seemed peaceful at the airstreams blown at its topography; soft buzzes and chirps of beasts molded by nature soon became rhythmic at the smallest amount of time and space – dusts were distracting but it was just as good, the kind of feeling where places are akin to ghost town but filled with asylum.

But the fortress of Konoha was uptight as lights grew ill at ease; Shizune and her company ran through the corridor as blood served as their tour guide in an unknown chaos. Focusing, she channeled her chakra and within seconds became visible through aura, her strength powered up. Two shinobi's were set dead in front of them; Shizune clutched glimpse of three shadows fleeing the room through the windows, and together with Iruka followed the intruders. "Ninpou Dokukiri!" Purple breeze of poison dispersed within meters enough for Iruka to avoid, one shadow falling on the ground. Indigo-hued chakra turned red in Shizune's right palm soon as she hit the trespasser's collar; Iruka circled around to throw sets of kunai's, nailing the adversary on the filthy soil. "Who are you?! What're you doing here?!"

"Shizune-san! They're getting away!" Iruka then ran towards them, preparing a fuumashuriken when hefty waters mobilized promptly at his front creating a clash of metal against water. Dodging the remaining waters filled with chakra, he then followed Shizune. "What happened?" he asked, staring at the man with eyes wide open. "A replication?"

"No, he bit off his tongue."

Morning never felt better this way. Rock Lee's left leg swooshed in the air as it stroke weak bamboo trunks by the training grounds of Gai-sensei's premises, Ten Ten sighing in amazement; the taijustu connoisseur never was great when it all boils down to the metaphysic arts of ninja but his volition is overwhelming nonetheless. Rock Lee never was the type who would admit defeat just because of a single crack in the bones; his philosophy to be a great ninja a reason for such. He believed that faith in self-assurance and resolves was key to muster and master the art of war; he believed that transcendence comes around with fortitude amidst the futilities of flukes and shinobi happenstances. He believed that consciousness is dead with capitulation – and with this he marshaled all that is left, and polished it amazingly apt ways.

Rock Lee was also friendly yet competitive, a sign that in all of tribulations, losing will always be a win – all these Ten Ten thought as she prepared her attack. "Kagura Shuriken!" her chakra converged and twenty shuriken's escaped from her arsenal, aiming at Rock Lee. The Gai-duplicate youngster readied himself and with burning eyes started to dodge them with taijutsu.

It was like the divine punishment, she thought. Rock Lee grew stronger after his surgery but his source of enthusiasm was unknown even to their sensei. Did she improve too? Ten Ten dodged her teammate's punch via kawarimi and there, at Rock Lee's back, she revealed her whip and lashed her teammate, but and seconds more Gai came into view to halt the training. With a flashy smile, that is.

"Good morning students!"

"Good morning Gai-sensei!" Rock Lee's eagerness overwhelmed Ten Ten's voice. "That's very pleasant of you two, practicing for the next exams!"

"Uhm, not really Gai-sensei..." Ten Ten gasped as she cloaked her lash. "What happened last night anyway? I heard a robbery occurred,"

"Shh, Ten Ten. No Konoha citizen should hear that! I wasn't here last night due to my mission, that's why the burglars got away!" A sweat dropped on her forehead. "What will Tsunade-sama do?" Rock Lee asked.

"We don't know, but I think they'll send chuunin's to retrieve the—"

"Retrieve?" Gai closed his eyes then, knowing he spilled it. "No, never mind!" he said, smiling.

Aburame Shino was stoic indeed amidst the company he's in; down on the wooded areas of Konoha he embraced silence like it was tangible. Together with Hinata they leapt from one anciently corpulent tree to another, Haruno Sakura and Ten Ten trailing behind – they claimed to have volunteered with Hinata to join in their mission. In this circumstance, the Aburame genius could only silently lament; not only he was the only male, he was uncomfortable with companionship – he believed that such mission is done lucratively in solitude with no anxiety towards the welfare of others. In such stillness the four of them ran en route the Hidden Village of Leaf's exit, scampering away towards unknown chaos indeed. Konohagakure no Sato's scroll was stolen by unknown shinobi's.

"Shikamaru and the others has been chasing that Uchiha youngster for too long but I can't back them out now, can I? The jounin's have their own missions and other shinobi's can't be dispatched that easily,"

The chuunin Hyuuga Hinata listened closely at the faint birds that perched just outside the fifth hokage's window; the sound was cadenced like lyrical odes, and sure, morning was just as good. "The Academy needs educationalists and Konoha needs sentinels; yes, Tsunade-sama, they don't need to be sent off,"

"I'm sending you and Shino on a mission. A scroll essential for the village was stolen by a group of unknown ninja's and I need you both to see through it," she said, staring at the freshly opened doors. "How do we know who stole it?" Shino asked, unflappable at the slightest backdrop. "Shizune and Iruka attempted to chase them but both failed; they were able to snag an autograph clothing though – of Sound village."

"Isn't that where Orochimaru dwells?"

"Well... call it a stealth mission. Confrontation is discouraged. I need a report about recent affairs in the Sound Village as regards with the stolen scroll,"

Meanwhile, only Shino's scout bugs knew of Uchiha Sasuke following kilometers away.

a/n: this one's short, ne? reviews/flames are appreciated.